1999 CityJazz, the new concert facility housing the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame celebrates its grand opening with the help of artists whose presence implies a blessing on the upscale venue. Trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, drummer Elvin Jones, clarinetist Artie Shaw, and pianists Horace Silver and Cecil Taylor, five of only 14 living members of the venerable jazz magazine’s Hall of Fame, crowd on stage during the opening ceremonies.
1998 Tim Kelly, guitarist for Slaughter, dies from injuries suffered in a collision on a remote highway in Arizona. Kelly, 34, is driving on State Route 96 when an 18-wheel tractor-trailer jackknifes and collides with his vehicle.
1981 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau inducts Joni Mitchell into Canada’s Juno Hall of Fame.
1970 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Venus,” The Shocking Blue. The song is the biggest-selling single from Holland.
1969 Bobby Brown of New Edition is born in Boston. After leaving the teen R&B group he has a string of solo hits, including the million-selling No. 1 song “My Prerogative.” He has a bit part in the film “Ghostbusters II” which features his million-selling song “On Our Own.” In 1992, he marries singer Whitney Houston.
1960 No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: “Teen Angel,” Mark Dinning. Dinning was surrounded by music from an early age: three of his sisters formed the group the Dinning Sisters (which had a top 10 song with the Oscar-winning “Buttons and Bows”) and his baby-sitter was Patti Page. The song debuts at No. 100 on the Hot 100.
1944 J.R. Cobb of Atlanta Rhythm Section and Classics IV is born in Birmingham, Ala.
1942 Cory Wells of Three Dog Night is born in Buffalo, N.Y